Identification

Queensland livestock owners are reminded to renew their brand, earmark and tattoo registration details with Biosecurity Queensland by January 31.

Biosecurity Queensland Deputy Registrar of Brands Pat Kalinowski said up-to-date brand and earmark registration enabled the ownership of livestock to be established and ensures brands were being used correctly.

“Any changes to address, name or other details should be made with the annual return,” Mr Kalinowski said.

Sheep and goat producers in Western Australia are now required to record mob-based movements on the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database.

Department of Agriculture and Food Brands Registrar Farran Dixon said the new recording requirements were designed to accelerate the tracing of sheep and goats in the case of a disease outbreak or the detection of a residue in meat, milk or fibre.

In 2004, the Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) introduced a new system for tracing sheep and goats, the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS Sheep & Goats). NLIS (Sheep & Goats) commenced on 1 January 2006, with sheep and goats born after that date required to be tagged before leaving the property of birth. Several States have separate arrangements for identification of dairy goats; contact each state department for details.

The important role that the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for sheep and goats plays in providing for the identification and tracing of livestock for biosecurity, food safety, product integrity and market access purposes is being reinforced through the progressive introduction of mob-based movement recording.